Although branches of libraries in Brevard County currently stock copies of erotic titles including the Kama Sutra, Tropic of Cancer and Fanny Hill, the area's librarians took the decision at the start of May to pull the copies of Fifty Shades of Grey they had on shelves because "we don't collect porn". A public petition was launched opposing the move, "because banning books is wrong, no matter what the perceived content", and anti-censorship groups dubbed it unconstitutional.

"There is no room on library shelves for censorship," wrote the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Florida and the National Coalition Against Censorship in a letter late last week to Brevard County officials. "The county's removal of Fifty Shades of Grey from circulation simply because some readers may find its content offensive is un-American; it violates the First Amendment to the US Constitution and Section 4 of the Florida Constitution; and it exposes the County Commission to potential liability for violations of those rights."

"We have always stood against censorship," said library services director Cathy Schweinsberg. "We have a long history of standing against censorship and that continues to be a priority for this library system." A review of the county's book selection criteria is ongoing.

Fifty Shades of Grey started life as fan fiction set in the Twilight universe. Telling of the dominant/submissive relationship between businessman Christian Grey and student Anastasia Steele, it has sold millions of copies around the world – although it has won few plaudits for its style. "He's my very own Christian Grey-flavoured popsicle," says Steele at one point. And then: "My inner goddess is doing the merengue with some salsa moves."